The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will offer Far West Texas homeowners two venues to brush up on their rainwater harvesting knowledge this month.

The first Rainwater Harvesting Workshop will be held at 9:30 a.m. July 17 at the Glasscock County Community Center in Garden City.

The second workshop is a joint effort between the AgriLife Extension offices in Andrews and Gaines counties. It’s set for 5:45-8:30 p.m. July 18 at the AgriLife Extension office in Andrews County, 851E. Broadway St. in Andrews. RSVP to the AgriLife Extension office in Andrews County at 432-524-1421 as seating is limited.

Individual registration is $20 at each workshops and is due upon arrival.

Billy Kniffen, AgriLife Extension water resource specialist, emeritus at Menard, will be the key speaker at both workshops. The two programs have the same agenda.

Kniffen will present an overview of rainwater harvesting and cover uses in the home landscape, flower beds, for wildlife use and as a drinking water source. He will also demonstrate how to make a rainwater barrel.

“We don’t get a lot of rainfall out here in West Texas, but with the right setup, it doesn’t take much to collect a substantial amount of water,” said Josh Blanek, AgriLife Extension agent in Andrews County. “The typical 1,800 square foot house can harvest over a 1,000 gallons of water from each inch of rain that falls on its roof and out here every drop counts, so it’s sure something to consider.”

For more information on the Glasscock County meeting contact Rebel Royall, AgriLife Extension agent in Glasscock County, at 432-354-2381, r-royall@tamu.edu . For the Andrews County meeting, contact Blanek at 432-524-1421, j-blanek@tamu.edu .